The nitty-gritty: I loved the magical worldbuilding and stellar writing, but the plot felt scattered and confusing, resulting in a story with mixed results. Don’t Sleep With the Dead is a companion novella to Nghi Vo’s The Chosen and the Beautiful, a magical retelling of The Great Gatsby which I read almost four years ago […]
The nitty-gritty: Adventure, danger, magic and a touch of romance, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales brings all these elements and more together in this satisfying series conclusion. “I must write it down. For it is in writing that I will discover a way out. A door within the story. There is one. It cannot […]
The nitty-gritty: Funny and heartwarming, Kira Jane Buxton takes on truffles and Tuscany in this worthy follow-up to her beloved Hollow Kingdom series. After loving the brilliant Hollow Kingdom, I was a bit leery to read Tartufo, a straight-up piece of literary fiction that didn’t have the speculative elements I usually look for in my […]
The nitty-gritty: A thoroughly entertaining—if not perfect—Alice Feeney thriller, full of her trademark twists and quirky characters. Alice Feeney has written another twisty story with unreliable characters and a very cool set-up, and although it’s not my favorite of her books, it was a lot of fun. We follow writer Grady Green, who, when the […]
The nitty-gritty: Found family, low stakes and fascinating world building make Rumor Has It another winning entry in Cat Rambo’s cozy sci-fi series. “That’s all a family is,” he signed. “People staying together as long as they possibly can.” Rumor Has It is the third book in Cat Rambo’s cozy space opera series, but it’s […]
The nitty-gritty: A sequel just as good as the first book, Devil’s Gun excels at character development and world-building, with plenty of heart and emotion. “But I am not a soldier,” she said. “We are not fighting anyone or hiring out as mercenaries, are we?” “No, “ he said, coiling hoses to put them away. […]
The nitty-gritty: A fun prequel that delves into themes of marriage and communication, Odd Spirits incorporates magic, spirits and emotional ties, all wrapped up in a beautiful package. Odd Spirits is a prequel novella to Evocation, which I read earlier this year, and focuses on married couple Moira and Rhys. At just over a hundred […]
The nitty-gritty: Secrets, lies, blackmail and murder combine in this excellent locked-room mystery. Whether or not you’re a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and his films, I guarantee you’ll have fun reading The Hitchcock Hotel. This is a locked room mystery with fantastic twists, plenty of unreliable characters, a bit of humor and a lot of […]
The nitty-gritty: There are plenty of surprises in store for readers in Nghi Vo’s latest, another sparkling entry in her popular series. Confession time: I haven’t read the first four books of The Singing Hills Cycle, but since each one is marketed as a stand-alone, and because I’ve been wanting to read the series, I […]
The nitty-gritty: Unusual formatting, a captivating story and distinct character voices make Calypso a unique treat for sci-fi fans who are looking for something different. Novels in verse require an extra level of attention from the reader, but they can be so rewarding if the author knows what they are doing. Case in point, Oliver […]